Single Papa

Neeraj Udhwani, Ishita Moitra and Shruti Madan's story has all the trappings of a fun-filled entertainer. Neeraj Udhwani, Ishita Moitra and Shruti Madan's screenplay is breezy and peppered with several comic and dramatic sequences and a few heartening moments as well. Neeraj Udhwani, Ishita Moitra and Shruti Madan's dialogues are one of the USPs of the show. However, after a point, it gets repetitive to see characters misinterpreting a dialogue for comic effect. It still raises chuckles but the effect is diluted. Shashank Khaitan, Hitesh Kewalya and Neeraj Udhwani's direction is mass-appealing. They all have distinct filmmaking styles, but in SINGLE PAPA, they are all on the same page and execute the show smoothly.

Considering the 'apna khoon' belief that prevents the childless from opting for adoption, the series serves up a message with comic flair. That is, until the plot runs out of steam and derails by the time Namrata's chaotic wedding arrives. The added complication of Jatin suspecting his wife of cheating on him, or a neighbour being mistreated by his son, are just extra padding. Within its circle of comedy, the show has a nicely casual attitude towards divorce, career women, parenting and greedy godmen -- it would be interesting to see how baby Amul grows up in a two-man household though there is a possibility of a romance between Gaurav and Goldie's cousin (Aisha, who is, conveniently, a paediatrician).

The sitcom-like humour is haphazard by design as well as without meaning to be. Single Papa is all over the place, but sharp casting, committed actors who have some great lines, and an excellent lead actor keep the show on the rails. It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Kunal Kemmu as Gaurav. Apart from comic timing and an ability to rattle off scripted lines as though he is improvising them, Kemmu has a knack for overshadowing his actors without crowding them. Prajakta Koli, as Gaurav’s reluctant ally, and Manoj Pahwa, as his biggest adversary, have several strong scenes. Daya Shetty is incredibly sweet as the mountain-sized many with a mushy heart.

Single Papa is far from perfect. It’s messy, stretched, sometimes clumsy. But it has its heart in the right place. And in a world where we’re still arguing over who should change the diaper, a show that spotlights men nurturing, crying, softening – and still being strong – feels like a conversation worth having.

There is a fun, feel-good and festive vibe to the show, even though the sets and production design carry a sense of plasticity. It is a Netflix series after all and the grandness is up for show. So, barring the disjoint created by the overly-sanitised aesthetics, Single Papa gets the emotions right. It offers an alternate display of masculinity which is particularly pleasing to watch. It is also a treat to witness a giant Dayanand Shetty in the role of a male nanny or a “manny”, as the show calls him. “Why can’t manliness be maternal”, he argues in a scene. The show blossoms in these smaller moments, sprawling a thought, shedding a tear and bringing a smile, all at once.